2400:ADC3:10A:4300:3CEE:43D0:7552:4476 at 14:01, 13 June 2022

2022-06-13T14:01:29Z

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{{About|the film|the Delhi gang rape victim, nicknamed "Damini" by the media|2012 Delhi gang rape}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Damini
| image = Damini.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Rajkumar Santoshi]]
| producer = [[Aly Morani]] [[Karim Morani]] Bunty Soorma
| writer = Rajkumar Santoshi Sutanu Gupta (Story)
| narrator =
| starring = [[Meenakshi Sheshadri]] [[Sunny Deol]] [[Rishi Kapoor]] [[Amrish Puri]] [[Paresh Rawal]]
| music = [[Nadeem-Shravan]] [[Sameer (lyricist)|Sameer]] (Lyrics)
| cinematography = Ishwar Bidri
| editing = V. N. Mayekar<ref>[http://www.movietalkies.com/movies/index.asp?MovieId=16237 Damini] Movietalkies.com.</ref>
| studio =
| distributor =
| released = 30 April 1993
| runtime = 176 minutes
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR}} 2.05 crore
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INRConvert|11.75|c|year=1993|lk=c}}<ref name=bo />
}}

'''''Damini''''' ({{Translation|Lightning}}) is a 1993 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[crime drama]] film directed and co-written by [[Rajkumar Santoshi]]. It [[Meenakshi Seshadri]] in the titular role with [[Sunny Deol]], [[Rishi Kapoor]] and [[Amrish Puri]]. [[Aamir Khan]] makes a special appearance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/03/14/5-aamir-khan-appearances-_n_6868510.html|title=Here Are 5 Aamir Khan Appearances We Bet You Had Totally Forgotten About (Or Perhaps Never Knew)|date=14 March 2015|website=HuffPost India|language=en|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref> The story revolves around a woman who fights against the injustices in the society. The film is considered to be one of the best woman-centric films ever made in Bollywood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/cmcm/women-power-15-must-watch-female-oriented-movies-in-bollywood|title=Women Power! 15 must watch female-oriented movies in Bollywood|website=Latest Indian news, Top Breaking headlines, Today Headlines, Top Stories {{!}} Free Press Journal|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/lifestyle/variety/go-women-centric-cinema-womens-day-1502597188.html|title=Go with women-centric cinema this Women's Day|date=7 March 2018|website=The Statesman|language=en-US|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/slideshow/best-bollywood-movies-women-empowerment_355.html|title=The best Bollywood movies on women empowerment|date=2 March 2014|website=Zee News|language=en|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/entertainment-gallery/mother-india-andhi-arth-jai-gangaajal-queen-movies-to-watch-this-womens-day/|title=Mother India, Andhi, Arth, Jai Gangaajal, Queen: Movies to watch this Women's Day|date=8 March 2016|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/womens-day-special-10bollywood-movies-that-celebrate-womanhood/articleshow/31668901.cms|title=Women's Day Special: 10 Bollywood Movies That Celebrate Womanhood|website=Business Insider|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref>

Besides being critically acclaimed, the film became the sixth [[Bollywood films of 1993#Highest grossing|highest grossing of the year]] and was declared a "hit" at Box Office India.<ref name=bo>[http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=199&catName=MTk5Mw== Box Office 1993] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017072516/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=199&catName=MTk5Mw%3D%3D |date=17 October 2013 }} Box Office India.</ref> ''Damini – Lightning'' is mostly remembered for [[Meenakshi Seshadri]]'s career best performance that was highly acclaimed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/recentpost/When-Meenakshi-Sheshadri-didn-1226|title=When Meenakshi Sheshadri didn't get even a single award for her remarkable performance in DAMINI (1993). (Did You Know – 60)|website=bobbytalkscinema.com|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.returntohades.com/2015/01/28/10-best-bollywood-women-oriented-films/|title=10 Best – Bollywood Women Oriented Films|last=return_to_hades|date=29 January 2015|website=Return To Hades|language=en-US|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/entertainment/movies/bollywoods-12-iconic-women-centric-films/|title=iconic womencentric films in Bollywood. Mother India, Arth, Mirch Masala, Damini, Bandit Queen|last=Dinware|first=Samiya|date=8 March 2015|website=BookMyShow|language=en-US|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="Perishable">{{Cite web|url=https://womennow.in/damini-bollywood-portraying-womens-power/|title=Damini – Bollywood portraying Women's power|last=Perishable|date=21 October 2014|website=WomenNow.in|language=en-GB|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/metoo-was-long-overdue/cid/1671775|title=#MeToo was long overdue|website=telegraphindia.com|language=en|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="Bolt called Damini">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/bolt-called-damini/cid/1428342|title=Bolt called Damini|website=telegraphindia.com|language=en|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-asin-quits-acting-after-marriage-other-actresses-who-chose-family-over-career-2199087|title=Asin quits acting after marriage: Other actresses who chose family over career|date=2016-04-06|website=Daily News and Analysis|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/nov/16/16829|title=5 memorable roles of Meenakshi Seshadri – Birthday special|last=Thombare|first=Suparna|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/serving-justice-on-screen/295161|title=Serving Justice on Screen|website=outlookindia.com/|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref>

It is considered a cult feminist film and is still regarded as an all-time classic female oriented film and important for portraying women empowerment in cinema<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/amp/news/buzz/90smoviesin2018-heres-why-meenakshi-seshadri-rishi-kapoors-damini-is-a-cult-feminist-film-1963225.html|title=#90sMoviesIn2018: Here's Why Meenakshi Seshadri-Rishi Kapoor's 'Damini' is a Cult Feminist Film|website=news18.com|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com//features/20-women-oriented-films-in-bollywood-26975.html|title=20 women-oriented films in Bollywood|website=filmfare.com|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desiblitz.com/content/bollywood-films-tackle-social-stigmas|title=Top Bollywood Films that Tackle Social Stigmas|date=2018-09-19|website=DESIblitz|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref name="Bolt called Damini" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/movies/roles-that-changed-the-way-bollywood-looks-at-women/Naina-Dushman-1998/slideshow/31602667.cms|title=Naina (Dushman, 1998)|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/movies/navratri-special-top-5-bollywood-films-which-are-female-oriented_1804864.html|title=Navratri special: Top 5 Bollywood films which are female oriented!|date=2015-10-01|website=Zee News|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref> The pathbreaking film was praised for breaking social taboos and handling the subject of rape with sensitivity; a rarity in Bollywood at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-evolution-of-the-rape-scene-2520956|title=Evolution of the rape scene|date=2017-08-05|website=Daily News and Analysis|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/bollywood-films-in-which-good-triumphed-over-evil/15653185|title=Bollywood films in which good triumphed over evil|date=2014-10-03|website=mid-day|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/apr/30/12896|title=Burning issues raised in Rajkumar Santoshi's Damini still remain — 25th anniversary special|last=Kahlon|first=Sukhpreet|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.femina.in/achievers/the-harsh-truth-about-being-a-rape-survivor-in-india-85230.html|title=The harsh truth about being a rape survivor in India|website=femina.in|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-top-10-movies-that-portray-the-moral-decline-of-society-1888409|title=Top 10 movies that portray the moral decline of society|date=2013-09-13|website=Daily News and Analysis|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref>

It is equally memorable for [[Sunny Deol]]'s brilliant portrayal of an alcoholic lawyer and the role gained him a [[Filmfare]] as well as [[National Film Award (India)|National Film Award]] for Best Supporting Actor for 1993. It strengthened his Bollywood he-man image. His dialogues in the film "''Tarikh Pe Tarikh''" ("date after date") and "''Dhai Kilo ka Haath''" ('Two-and-a-half kilogram hand') became iconic and a pop-culture reference.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/Star%20Track/tarikh-pe-tarikh/297142.html|title=Tribune India – Tarikh pe tarikh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.desimartini.com/news/amp/martini-shots/archive/sunny-deol-roles-films-article38504.htm|title=RANKED: 5 Best Performances of Sunny Deol \u002D Desimartini|website=m.desimartini.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/happy-birthday-sunny-deol-his-7-best-films-you-should-watch-again-1913093.html|title=Happy Birthday Sunny Deol: His 7 Best Films You Should Watch Again|website=News18|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref> The film was a milestone in the careers of Sunny Deol, Meenakshi Sheshadri and Amrish Puri, who gave some great hits like ''[[Ghayal (1990 film)|Ghayal]]'' (1990) and ''[[Ghatak: Lethal]]'' (1996) together.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsnation.in/photos/entertainment/amrish-puri-birthday-special-5-iconic-performances-of-the-legendary-actor-that-made-him-our-favourite-villain-3-2094/slide1|title=Amrish Puri birthday special 5 iconic performances of the legendary actor that made him our favourite villain- News Nation|website=newsnation.in|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/jolly-llb-damini-pink-court-and-more-bollywood-s-10-best-courtroom-drama/story-IYTPwv776wbs64bbNTwreJ.html|title=Jolly LLB, Damini, Pink, Court and more: Bollywood's 10 best courtroom dramas|date=2017-02-09|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/birthday-special-3-of-amrish-puri-unforgettable-negative-roles-sc17-nu-47760-1.html|title=Birthday Special: 3 of Amrish Puri's unforgettable negative roles|website=english.newstracklive.com/|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desimartini.com/news/martini-shots/top-list/5-instances-where-holi-sequence-in-bollywood-was-not-a-happy-occasion-article78266.htm|title=5 Instances Where Holi Sequence in Bollywood Was Not A Happy Occasion|date=2018-03-02|website=Desimartini|language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref> [[Aamir Khan]] acted in a special appearance in the stage show dance song. He also promotes his upcoming film ''[[Andaz Apna Apna]]'' (1994) which was also directed by [[Rajkumar Santoshi]].

''Damini – Lightning'' was remade into Oriya as ''Nari Nuhne Tu Narayani'', starring Sidhanta Mohapatra and Rachana Banarjee. It was remade into Tamil as ''[[Priyanka (1994 film)|Priyanka]]'', starring Revathi as the title character. ''[[Box Office India]]'' declared the film a super hit. This film was remade in Bangladesh as ''Sottyer Bijoy'', starring [[Manna (actor)|Manna]] and [[Moushumi]], directed by F.I. Manik. The rights of the movie were owned by [[Shah Rukh Khan]]'s [[Red Chillies Entertainment]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.redchillies.com/movies/movie-rights.aspx|title=Red Chillies Official Website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006020052/http://redchillies.com/movies/movie-rights.aspx|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> which were transferred to [[Sunny Deol]] who plans to remake the film with his son Karan Deol.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://in.style.yahoo.com/shah-rukh-khan-ends-cold-105347817.html|title=ShahRukh Khan Ends Cold War With Sunny Deol By Handing Over Rights of Damini|language=en}}</ref>

''Damini'' is the recipient of a number of accolades. At the [[40th National Film Awards]], Deol won [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]. In addition to other awards, the film received seven nominations at the [[39th Filmfare Awards]] including [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] for Seshadri, and [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]] for Puri. It won a 4 leading awards — [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for Santoshi, [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] for Deol, [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]] for Sutanu Gupta, and [[Filmfare Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]] for Rakesh Ranjan.

==Plot==
Shekhar Gupta ([[Rishi Kapoor]]), a rich businessman, falls in love at first sight with Damini ([[Meenakshi Seshadri]]). They get married and Damini moves into his luxurious bungalow. On Holi day, she witnesses Shekhar's younger brother, Rakesh (Ashwin Kaushal), and his friends, gangraping the maid-servant Urmi (Prajakta) and rushes to tell Shekhar. Shekhar rushes over to prevent sexual assault but is too late. The Gupta family conspires to cover up this shameful incident. But Damini decides to inform the police. The matter is taken up in court and Damini is asked to testify. Damini is portrayed as a mentally unstable person and confined in a mental institution for two weeks by judicial order. Unable to bear the mental torture in the institution, she escapes and runs into a down-and-out alcoholic lawyer, Govind ([[Sunny Deol]]), who has the rape case re-opened. Urmi dies in hospital and the police write her death off as a suicide. But Govind is able to prove otherwise. It is up to Damini, Govind and Shekhar to provide justice to the victimized girl.

==Cast==
*[[Rishi Kapoor]] as Shekhar Gupta
*[[Sunny Deol]] as Advocate Govind Srivastava
*[[Meenakshi Seshadri]] as Damini Gupta
*[[Amrish Puri]] as Barrister Indrajit Chaddha
*[[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]] as Kedarnath Gupta, Damini's father-in-law & Shekhar's father.
*[[Anjan Srivastav]] as Chandrakant, Damini's father
*[[Paresh Rawal]] as Tolu Bajaj
*[[Rohini Hattangadi]] as Sumitra Gupta, Damini's mother-in-law & Shekhar's mother.
*[[Tinnu Anand]] as Shekhar's maternal uncle
*[[Sulabha Arya]] as Shekhar's maternal aunt
*[[Achyut Potdar]] as Police Commissioner
*[[Vijayendra Ghatge]] as Inspector Kadam
*[[K.K. Raina]] as Shekhar's friend
*[[Virendra Saxena]] as Advocate Saxena, First Lawyer of Damini and Public Prosceutor.
*[[Viju Khote]] as Shekhar's Driver
*[[Madhav Moghe]] as Birju , Mimicry artist , Damini's brother-in-law.
*[[Ashwin Kaushal]] as Rakesh Gupta, Damini's brother-in-law & Shekhar's brother.
*[[Suhas Bhalekar]] as Urmi's grandfather (guest appearance)
*[[Prajakta Kulkarni]] as Urmi
*[[Aamir Khan]] as himself Dancer in a song with Damini. (special appearance)

==Reviews==
Film reviewer Pranay Bhagat wrote: "If there is one modern film which signifies the importance of truth it has to be ''Damini''. Though the movie is more remembered for the dialogues of Sunny Deol and his confrontational scenes with Amrish Puri, I feel the movie should also be appreciated for a tight bound script, the wonderfully directed courtroom scenes, good background music as well as a career best performance from Meenakshi."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=f071110100511|title=Pranay Bhagat Review}}</ref>

Critic Vineeta Sinha in her review praises the film for its tight bound script, courtroom scenes, music and above all the career best performance of Meenakshi.<ref name="Perishable"/>

Film Critic Sulagana Biswas for the ''Telegraph India''; states the film despite being dated is still "eminently watchable" and also praising Sheshadri's portrayal of the title role states "the film still holds its own due to the earnestness of Meenakshi Sheshadri's performance."<ref name="Bolt called Damini"/>

Simantini Dey writing for ''News18'' hails the film as a "cult feminist film" and states "''Damini'' -- released in 1993 -- is perhaps one of the most misunderstood films in Bollywood history. Despite receiving instant critical acclaim upon its release and having a successful run at the box-office, we as an audience have celebrated this film for all the wrong reasons. Yes, Sunny Deol's punchy dialogues like, "Tarikh par Tarikh milti rahi hai, lekin insaaf nahi mila, my lord!" deserved all the claps and whistles it received, and the theatrics of the courtroom drama, wherein two lawyers Govind (Sunny Deol) and Mr. Indrajit Chaddha (Amrish Puri) exchange angry words and stares indeed make for a great Bollywood entertainer. But the real reason why ''Damini'' was such an iconic film and deserves a cult status is the protagonist of the film --- Damini (played brilliantly by Meenakshi Seshadri). Till date, Bollywood has not given us such a strong and beautifully written female character as Damini, who not only has a mind of her own, but also a conscience. Long before films like ''Raazi ''and ''Pink'' were made in Bollywood, Rajkumar Santoshi's ''Damini'' gave us a HIT feminist movie with a female central character, who fights against all odds to bring justice to another woman."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/amp/news/buzz/90smoviesin2018-heres-why-meenakshi-seshadri-rishi-kapoors-damini-is-a-cult-feminist-film-1963225.html|title=#90sMoviesIn2018: Here's Why Meenakshi Seshadri-Rishi Kapoor's 'Damini' is a Cult Feminist Film|website=news18.com|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Damini
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Nadeem-Shravan]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1993
| recorded =
| venue = Bombay
| studio = Sunny Super Sound
| genre = [[Soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 31 Min 25 sec
| language = [[Hindi]]
| label = RPG-HMV
| producer = Aly Moorani, Karim Morani & Bunty Shoorma
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
The soundtrack of this movie was composed by the music duo [[Nadeem Shravan]] and the lyrics were penned by [[Sameer (lyricist)|Sameer]] . The soundtrack was released in 1993 on Audio Cassette and Audio CD in RPG-HMV Music Made in India and EMI Made in England, Which consist 5 Songs. The full album is recorded by [[Kumar Sanu]], [[Alka Yagnik]], and [[Sadhna Sargam]]

The lyrics were written The song "Gawah Hain Chand Taare Gawah Hai" is based on the Swahili folk song "[[Malaika]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Srinivasan |first1=Karthik |title=How Bappi Lahiri and Nadeem-Shravan Ripped Off A Famous African Song To Make Two Hindi Versions |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/carbon-copy-how-bappi-lahiri-and-nadeem-shravan-ripped-off-a-famous-african-song-to-make-two-hindi-versions/ |website=[[Film Companion]] |access-date=10 January 2019 |date=8 January 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! No !! Title !! Singer(s)
|-
| 1
| "Jab Se Tumko Dekha Hai Sanam"
| [[Kumar Sanu]], [[Sadhana Sargam]]
|-
| 2
| "Gawah Hain Chand Taare Gawah Hai"
| Kumar Sanu, [[Alka Yagnik]]
|-
| 3
| "Bin Sajan Jhoola Jhoolu"
| Kumar Sanu, Sadhana Sargam
|-
| 4
| "Sacha Aashiq Hai To"
| Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik
|-
| 5
| "Kaga To Udd Gaya"
| Alka Yagnik
|}

==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
! Ceremony !! Category !! Recipient !! Result
|-
|[[40th National Film Awards]]
|[[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Sunny Deol]]
|rowspan="5" {{Won}}
|-
|rowspan="7"| [[39th Filmfare Awards]]
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|[[Rajkumar Santoshi]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]]
|Sutanu Gupta
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
|Rakesh Ranjan
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
|''Damini''
|rowspan="3" {{nom}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
|[[Meenakshi Seshadri]]
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]]
|[[Amrish Puri]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0106655}}

{{Rajkumar Santoshi}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Damini - Lightning}}
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1993 crime drama films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Nadeem–Shravan]]
[[Category:Films directed by Rajkumar Santoshi]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor National Film Award-winning performance]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:1990s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian crime drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian legal drama films]]
[[Category:Indian courtroom films]]
[[Category:Films about rape in India]]
[[Category:1990s legal films]]
[[Category:Indian avant-garde and experimental films]]

Damini - Revision history

2400:ADC3:10A:4300:3CEE:43D0:7552:4476 at 14:01, 13 June 2022